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Address and Contact Information
Address: 406 Harvard St, Brookline, MA 02446
Phone: (617) 487-8440
Website: https://www.kaojiurestaurant.com/
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Kaojiu Restaurant | BBQ restaurant | 406 Harvard Street , Brookline …
Experience the savory flavors of grilled meats at Kaojiu Restaurant in Brookline, MA. Indulge in our delicious barbecue and Asian-inspired dishes.
Kaojiu Restaurant (@kaojiu_restaurant_) · Brookline, MA – Instagram
Chinese BBQ restaurant. 406 Harvard Street Brookline 02446. Sun-M 12-10; F-Sat 12-10:30. 6174878440. KaoJiuRestaurant.com
Kao Jiu will be closing soon. This well known Chinese restaurant …
Beloved Chinese restaurant in Massachusetts will be gone in a few months. The owners of Cow Jew in Brookline have decided to end their story …
Reviews
Jea Kim
Top tier Chinese BBQ skewers.
It’s been a long time since I’ve had Chinese BBQ skewers that really hit. Back when I used to get them in Korea, they were the kind of late-night comfort you don’t easily find in the U.S., and honestly, the skewers here were just as good.
I came once for lunch and again for dinner, and the weekday lunch special is a great deal. For about $20, you get a small appetizer, one vegetable skewer, one meat skewer, and a small portion of a main like noodles or rice. Amazing value and a good way to try a bit of everything.
At dinner, my favorites were the lamb ribs, beef and lamb kebabs, and shiitake mushrooms. Most items come dusted in that familiar savory, spicy mala seasoning, but the kitchen doesn’t use the spice to hide bad meat. The meats were juicy and well-rendered.
Definitely a spot I’d come back to whenever I’m craving a protein-heavy Chinese skewer fix.
… moreIt’s been a long time since I’ve had Chinese BBQ skewers that really hit. Back when I used to get them in Korea, they were the kind of late-night comfort you don’t easily find in the U.S., and honestly, the skewers here were just as good.
I came once for lunch and again for dinner, and the weekday lunch special is a great deal. For about $20, you get a small appetizer, one vegetable skewer, one meat skewer, and a small portion of a main like noodles or rice. Amazing value and a good way to try a bit of everything.
At dinner, my favorites were the lamb ribs, beef and lamb kebabs, and shiitake mushrooms. Most items come dusted in that familiar savory, spicy mala seasoning, but the kitchen doesn’t use the spice to hide bad meat. The meats were juicy and well-rendered.
Definitely a spot I’d come back to whenever I’m craving a protein-heavy Chinese skewer fix.
John Y
IG worthy decor. Friendly staff. Surprisingly upscale food and service! High quality cuts of meat (e.g lamb skewer that wasn’t thosereally small and ultra lean skewers that cheaper places have). And when we got dessert it automatically came with a little bowl to share.
… morelexie lu
The liangpi (cold noodles) is my favorite so far. They’re very authentic and perfect for a summer appetizer.
However, all the barbecue here is a bit too sweet for my taste. If you prefer your barbecue with a saucier and slightly sweeter flavor, this place is for you. Personally, I like my barbecue spicier and not sweet.
The lamb kebabs are awesome, but the chicken wings are a bit of a letdown. They’re small portions and overcooked.
Maybe next time I’ll try their drink list. It looks very interesting.
… moreHowever, all the barbecue here is a bit too sweet for my taste. If you prefer your barbecue with a saucier and slightly sweeter flavor, this place is for you. Personally, I like my barbecue spicier and not sweet.
The lamb kebabs are awesome, but the chicken wings are a bit of a letdown. They’re small portions and overcooked.
Maybe next time I’ll try their drink list. It looks very interesting.
Vioni Giovanni
The best dinner we’ve ever had in Brookline! Food and beverage are all flavorful and just right <3 The service also really good! Love how they gave the best recommendations and answer all questions patiently. The staffs are friendly, we really have a great time here! Will come back with more friends for sure :)
… moreGloria Ha
I’ve been meaning to try this place for a while, and got to try a lot of things as we went with a group of friends. Overall I would say that the food was good, but the flavors were a bit repetitive and nothing stood out. The fried rice was probably my favorite dish. The barbecue dishes all tasted similar and the mushrooms were sadly quite soggy and under seasoned.
… moreFarizky Aryapradana
What an experience to try Chinese-style barbecue in Greater Boston area. Every food is flavorful with all spices. The services are excellent too. Very recommended place to visit
… moreJenni shen
Overall bbq dishes are very slow: Lamp chops are tiny and dry and cold; every other dish is tiny portion tops. Plus floor is extra slippery, be careful.
… moreBecky Souriyavong
Came here twice already. Once with just my fiance and child and this time for my fiances birthday. I’m super glad they accommodated my party of 13. Will definitely be returning in the future.
Definitely recommend the egg fried rice, lamb bone hotpot, potato chips, beef kebab. Intially came because I missed the beef and lamb skewers back from when i visited China. I gotta admit this place is the real deal and is authentic.
Snapped a photo of the Hotpot and the lamb shank, didn’t have time to snap the other food because everyone ate it so fast.
… moreDefinitely recommend the egg fried rice, lamb bone hotpot, potato chips, beef kebab. Intially came because I missed the beef and lamb skewers back from when i visited China. I gotta admit this place is the real deal and is authentic.
Snapped a photo of the Hotpot and the lamb shank, didn’t have time to snap the other food because everyone ate it so fast.
NickyFoodReviews
The ambiance is very very unique, the menus are on scrolls or bamboo wood boards that unfold, the whole place has Chinese written all over and a lot of artifacts, and a very cool jade Bok Choy at the front.
We got 2 drinks to try, a Pomelo Honey Tea/Fascinate Lychee Mocktail. The fascinate lychee tastes well, a lot like Chi forest drinks and comes with a lychee on top. The pomelo honey was good, though stronger on the tea flavor.
For the meal, we got Chicken/Lamb/Shrimp skewers, teriyaki squid, Cold noodle salad, and a Chicken Karaage. The chicken Karaage was alright, sauce was decent but the pieces were kinda small and felt more like chicken skin? The Cold noodle salad was a bit spicy but tasted really good. The skewers were pretty decent, for the price and portion we got a decent amt. the teriyaki squid was a highlight, as it was savory and had a little spice but wasn’t overwhelming. The least favorite was probably the chicken, but that’s probably cuz it didn’t have enough spice. Spice was a cumin blend so it wasn’t exactly too spicy.
Very good place, best for smaller groups and definitely want to get it again.
… moreWe got 2 drinks to try, a Pomelo Honey Tea/Fascinate Lychee Mocktail. The fascinate lychee tastes well, a lot like Chi forest drinks and comes with a lychee on top. The pomelo honey was good, though stronger on the tea flavor.
For the meal, we got Chicken/Lamb/Shrimp skewers, teriyaki squid, Cold noodle salad, and a Chicken Karaage. The chicken Karaage was alright, sauce was decent but the pieces were kinda small and felt more like chicken skin? The Cold noodle salad was a bit spicy but tasted really good. The skewers were pretty decent, for the price and portion we got a decent amt. the teriyaki squid was a highlight, as it was savory and had a little spice but wasn’t overwhelming. The least favorite was probably the chicken, but that’s probably cuz it didn’t have enough spice. Spice was a cumin blend so it wasn’t exactly too spicy.
Very good place, best for smaller groups and definitely want to get it again.
Kelly Cambridgeport
I dined at KaoJiu Restaurant in North Brookline with a friend in October 2024, and while I waited some time before writing this review, I still find the experience very disappointing. On the positive side, the lamb hot pot was absolutely delicious — rich in flavor and beautifully presented — and other savory dishes like the scallion pancakes, eggplant, and short rib were also good.
The interior of the restaurant is beautiful, but the all-wood seating was uncomfortable, which made it hard to relax and enjoy the meal. We came in for an early dinner and were practically the only ones in the restaurant, yet the service was very slow and our server disappeared for long stretches of time.
The desserts were where things really fell apart. The purple dragon ice cream was visually striking but not edible, and from her response it was clear the server already knew this dish had been a problem before — yet she made no effort to address or remedy the issue. The menu also described “BBQ marshmallows,” which made us think it might be an Asian spin on toasted marshmallows. Instead, what arrived was just a deconstructed s’mores kit: a Hershey’s milk chocolate rectangle, graham crackers, and stale marshmallows with a small candle. The candle did light, but it wasn’t strong enough to toast the marshmallows or melt the chocolate. We both felt the restaurant should have called this dish “s’mores” on the menu rather than something more creative, because the reality didn’t live up to the description. Both desserts went uneaten, yet nothing was removed from the bill, which was surprising given the circumstances.
For the price point and atmosphere, I expected attentive service and thoughtful follow-through. Instead, despite some standout dishes, we were left frustrated with how key parts of the meal were handled.
… moreThe interior of the restaurant is beautiful, but the all-wood seating was uncomfortable, which made it hard to relax and enjoy the meal. We came in for an early dinner and were practically the only ones in the restaurant, yet the service was very slow and our server disappeared for long stretches of time.
The desserts were where things really fell apart. The purple dragon ice cream was visually striking but not edible, and from her response it was clear the server already knew this dish had been a problem before — yet she made no effort to address or remedy the issue. The menu also described “BBQ marshmallows,” which made us think it might be an Asian spin on toasted marshmallows. Instead, what arrived was just a deconstructed s’mores kit: a Hershey’s milk chocolate rectangle, graham crackers, and stale marshmallows with a small candle. The candle did light, but it wasn’t strong enough to toast the marshmallows or melt the chocolate. We both felt the restaurant should have called this dish “s’mores” on the menu rather than something more creative, because the reality didn’t live up to the description. Both desserts went uneaten, yet nothing was removed from the bill, which was surprising given the circumstances.
For the price point and atmosphere, I expected attentive service and thoughtful follow-through. Instead, despite some standout dishes, we were left frustrated with how key parts of the meal were handled.